Lewis



Oct. 18, 1949. H. LEWIS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1947 INVENTOR. 6 0F1 9" Lear Z6;

ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1949. LEWIS a 2,485,498

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 14, 1947 2 shbqts-sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. 01729 [610253 622m #60.

ATTD RN EYE Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to musical instruments. It is an object of the present invention to provide a combined string instrument and a needle sound reproducer to which the vibrations of the string are transmitted for the purpose of being reproduced through a horn fixed to the instrument.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a musical instrument employing a string and a reproducer which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the combined string device and horn.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the instrument.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the instrument taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a wood or leather piece disposed between the needle arm and the diaphragm.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of leather faced piece of wood on which rests a device for connecting the needle arm to the string.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary top and side elevational views showing a modified form of attachment of the needle to the string.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of arrangement where the reproducer is set in the long neck.

Fig. 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line lll| of Fig. 10.

- Referring now to the figures, [5 represents a long wood piece on the rear end of which is disposed a chin rest l6 and in the forward end of which is a slot 11 into which a string I8 is extended to be tightened by a tightening key IS.

The string I8 is connected at the rear of the wood piece to a post 2| and is extended forwardly and over a bridge 22. The string I8 is a banjo E string and is made out of wire.

on the bottom of the piece I 5 there is connected a reproducer 24 which is of hollow construction and serves as a support for a diaphragm 25. The

diaphragm 25 and the flange 26, Fig. 5. The

reproducer 24 has a sleeve projection 3| into which is extended the small end of a horn 32. The horn is secured to the sleeve projection 3| by a set screw'33. The diaphragm is made of aluminum, mica or brass and to its center there is secured a needle arm 35. Between the arm 35 and the diaphragm above its point of connection, there is disposed a leather block 36 having a groove 31 for receiving the needle arm 35. The needle arm 35 has an inturned end 38 which is connected to the center of the diaphragm. At-

taching plates 39 on opposite sides of the diaphragm and threadingly locked with the inbent end 38 of the needle fixes the needle to the diaphragm so that vibrations transmitted through the needle will be transmitted to the diaphragm.

The ring 21 has a lug projection 4! to which the needle arm 35 is pivotally connected by a pin 42 extending through the projection. The upper end of the needle arm has an inwardly bent portion 43 which rests upon a block 44 having a top leather facing 45 with a groove 46 therein for receiving the inbent portion 43.

Connected to the string I8 is a peg 48. The peg extends upwardly to receivethe string IS. The inbent end of the needle arm has a sleeve formation 43 for receiving the peg 48 and the peg is made secure therein by a set screw 50. The instrument is played with a bow while it is held under the chin in the same manner as a violin. The instrument can also be played while holding the same between the legs. The vibrations from the string are transmitted to the needle by the peg 48. The inbent end 43 of the needle arm 35 is slidable in the groove 46 of the block piece. These vibrations are extended through the needle and to the diaphragm 25 whereby they will be imparted to the horn 32.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, the peg 48 extends through the inbent end of the needle arm as indicated at 52 but the arm has wing extensions 53 with openings therein for receiving screws 54 which attach the same to leather formations 55 mounted on the reproducer 24. The leather has suflicient resiliency to permit the vibration of the needle arm.

In Figs. 10 and 11, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein the reproducer 24 is inserted in a recess 56 in the bottom of the long neck so that the main portion of the reproducer extends wholly directly beneath the long neck. The needle arm, as indicated at 51, is pivoted on a bracket 58 and has a sleeve portion 59 on its upper end to which peg 48 is attached and secured by a set screw 6|. In this construca block 62 which is of difl'erent shape than the block 44 and rests wholly on the top of the neck.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument having an elongated wood iece, a string extending longitudinally along the top of the wood piece and connected therewith by a projection and by a bridge over which the string can be stretched to be tightened, a tightening piece for the string adjustable in one end of the piece, a reproducer connected to the wood piece including a support and diaphragm, and a horn extending from the reproducer support; a needle arm pivoted upon the re producer support and connected to the center of the diaphragm, the upper end of the needle arm being inwardly bent, a peg element connected to the wire string and to the inbent portion of the needle arm, and a sound deadening member mounted on the support and positioned to engage the said inbent portion of the needle arm.

2. A musical instrument as defined in claim 1 in which the sound deadening block includes a leather facing with a groove therein disposed beneath the inbent end of the needle arm and over which the needle arm inbent end can slide.

3. A reproducer for a string instrument having a sound reproducing element including a diaphragm stretched over a cup-shaped support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support and positioned with one end in engagement with the diaphragm and the other extended over one side of the support, a wood block mounted on the support and positioned under the extended end of the arm, a fibrous vibration absorptive facing between the extended end of the arm and block, and a peg carried by the extended end of the arm and adapted to be influenced by a string of the instrument.

4. A reproducer for a string instrument having a sound reproducing element including a diaphragm stretched over a cup-shaped support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support and positioned with one end in engagement with the diaphragm and the other extended over one side of the support, a wood block mounted on the support and positioned under the extended end of the arm, a fibrous vibration absorptive facing between the extended end of the arm and block, a peg carried by the extended end of the arm and adapted to be influenced by a string of the instrument, and a fibrous sound deadening block positioned between the arm and diaphragm.

5. A reproducer for a string instrument having a sound reproducing element including a diaphragm stretched over a cup-shaped support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support and positioned with one end in engagement with the diaphragm and the other extended over one side of the support, a wood block mounted on the support and positioned under the extended end of the arm, a fibrous vibration absorptive facing between the extended end f the arm and block, and a peg adjustably mounted on the extended end of the arm and adapted to be influenced by a string of the instrument.

HARRY LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,184,221 Watty May 23, 1916 1,189,152 Marshall June 27, 1916 1,219,934 Gollmer Mar. 20, 1917 1,444,196 Logan Feb. 6, 1923 1,509,540 Campbell Sept. 23, 1924 2,039,227 Korhonen Apr. 28, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 606,747 France Mar. 13, 1926 

